Another Cliché Cultivation Story

Chapter 113

Ji Xian indifferently held Xiao Yueyin, his grip firm around her tender neck. Her words did little to affect him. The fault she had accused him of, he was guilty of it, but there was no remorse in his heart. She should be well aware of what kind of person he is by now, and though she had cursed him, he knew it was only out of her frustration.

He was letting her release her resentment, yet there was something she said that somewhat irritated him.

“Are you done with your little tantrum, Dragon Saintess?” He asked, his tone laced with a touch of sarcasm.

Xiao Yueyin’s hands held onto his arm, her fingers trying hard to claw deep into his seemingly impenetrable skin.

“Sr…wu…” she garbled painfully.

She knew he was making fun of her title, that the dignified Elder of the Arcane Mountain was nothing more than a child in front of him. Whether it was her behavior or her strength, it was insignificant.

Xiao Yueyin was on the verge of losing consciousness, but Ji Xian didn’t let her escape so easily. His grasp on her tightened and his aura flared to an even higher degree.

His actions caught the attention of all those who were still left in the Ardent Yin Sect. Figures appeared one after the other but none dared to come close due to the frightening pressure. Some decided to go against their gut feeling and approached the trio, but the minute they moved, they spat a mouthful of blood, fainted, and fell into the ocean.

“What’s going on?”

“Wait a minute… that’s the Dragon Saintess!”

“Who’s that man? Oh, oh no— the Dragon Saintess is in trouble! We need to help her!”

As these people began scurrying about, ineffectively sending their attacks forward, Xiao Yueyin was forcefully startled awake by the increase in pressure. A deathly air hung on her head as she painfully choked from being in Ji Xian’s presence. Words couldn’t describe how she was feeling right now. Her eyes widened as she realized he was actually torturing her. What she was experiencing was akin to being strangled but was unable to pass out or die.

Ji Xian was merciless, showing no reaction to her agony.

Pulling her closer, he fixed his gaze on Xiao Yueyin and spoke in an unsettlingly calm tone, “Remember this moment, Yueyin— the helplessness, the suffering, the torment. This is the reality of our world of cultivation when you lack the strength to protect yourself. Law? Order? Friendship? It is but a fickle thing. The day needs to come when you stop being complacent in your cultivation. You are stuck on the Ninth Life Destruction due to your own emotional weakness— your competitiveness with Lihua, your feelings for me, and your desire to protect Mortal Desolate. Instead of using all those things as fuel to improve yourself, you have let it hold you back. Where was all that confidence you have shown before?”

Ji Xian shook his head, “I’m disappointed.”

“Chh…grr…uuuu,” Tears streamed from Xiao Yueyin’s eyes, gurgling sounds came from her mouth and saliva dripped from her lips. Her body spasmed in stinging misery while her limbs wildly flailed in search of relief.

It was unknown if she even heard Ji Xian’s words in her condition.

yet he continued regardless.

“You wish to speak of talent? Then tell me, who has greater talent than you? Who has greater potential? Do you not realize the immensity of your background? Do you think people with a dragon bloodline are a dime a dozen? You are someone destined to become a Miracle, do you know the significance of that?”

Ji Xian narrowed his eyes, and his tone became slightly agitated, “You keep speaking of my talent, and my gift, it’s a shame you don’t know how ridiculous that sounds to me.”

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“Talent…” he murmured with some nostalgia. “Whatever talent I had, I’ve given it all away a long time ago, and do you know the price I paid for it?”

Xiao Yueyin, as though sensing his sentiment, stopped thrashing around and blankly stared at him.

Ji Xian returned her gaze and said calmly, “The price was my life. I had died for it.”

“As for my gift…”

Ji Xian bitterly smiled. His gift was the simulation. He wasn’t sure if Xiao Yueyin used this word intentionally but he did find it funny how fitting it was. How could he not be aware that the only reason he was able to reach this point was because of his simulation? He may sometimes laugh, joke, and brag about his strength but inside, he knew very well that without the simulation he would’ve died on the streets long ago. The simulation made him who he is today, even his innate ability— that was his pair of eyes, didn’t awaken until he got the simulation. His achievements were in large part only due to luck in obtaining this cheat.

Ji Xian shook his head, refusing to elaborate. He looked at Xiao Yueyin, who was still groaning in pain, and said, “You don’t seem to understand how good you’ve had it, to have been so sheltered by your sect, and… to have met me.”

Ji Xian smiled, his casual countenance returning, “You can blame me for my selfishness all you want, but in your heart, you should already know that without my interference, the situation right now in Mortal Desolate would’ve been even worse. There wouldn’t have just been one Chaos Tunnels active, but nine. This would’ve allowed the Graha to send over even more of their people. Just one Chaos Tunnel was enough to hold back your sect, imagine what eight more would do? It was me who gave you all a fighting chance.”

“tu…f…ut,” Xiao Yueyin glared at Ji Xian, obviously unconvinced by his words. To her, it only sounded like he was justifying himself, and she didn’t want to hear it.

Ji Xian didn’t want to argue with her and instead had another idea.

“You want me to save the Arcane Mountain, yes?” He suddenly asked. “Was that not the reason why you stayed here?”

Xiao Yueyin froze, despite all the pain she was feeling, she slowly nodded.

“Give me access to your sect’s lib—“

Knowing what he was about to say, Xiao Yueyin furiously glared at him, her eyes burning with anger.

“Uh,” Ji Xian awkwardly coughed and stopped himself.

“Then, how about this…” he grinned. “Let’s make a bet.”

“I’ll give you two hours, if you can break through to the Tenth Life Destruction within that time. I will give you my assistance.”

Xiao Yueyin gritted her teeth, hands nervously clutching onto Ji Xian’s arm. Her expression was one of uncertainty.

Two hours? That’s… impossible! This asshole! This #$#R@! Why, why can’t he just help me? Why does he always make things so complicated?! She screamed internally.

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” Ji Xian said indifferently. “You have two hours. If you have not broken through by then what will happen to your beloved sect, I wonder?”

Using his other hand, Ji Xian gently wiped away the tears from the corner of Xiao Yueyin’s eyes and saliva from her lips. Then, he moved his mouth close to her ears and whispered, “You should know what kind of person I am by now. I won’t act without benefit. If you fail this, not only will your life be forfeited but I will let your entire sect be destroyed. ”

Xiao Yueyin shivered. She gave him a look filled with fright and his perfectly handsome face was the last thing she saw before her vision went black.

“NOOOOO!”

The people from the Ardent Yin Sect screamed in horror.

“He— he killed the Dragon Saintess!”

“The Dragon Saintess is dead!”

From their point of view, they didn’t have a clear view of Ji Xian, only his back. He held Xiao Yueyin by the neck and the next thing they knew, her entire body exploded into countless particles.

Then, he vanished.

Far away, he reappeared along with Xia Lihua, whose face was filled with anger.

“Why did you do that?” She asked, her tone serious.

“It is for her own good,” Ji Xian replied casually.

“You tortured her and then you gambled on her life!” Xia Lihua exclaimed. “Is this all fun and games to you? She may die!”

Ji Xian shifted his gaze, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Xia Lihua, “this is for her own good.” He repeated solemnly.

“I think of her as my sister, if I knew this was what you were going to do, I would’ve—“

“Interfered? I know,” Ji Xian interjected, finishing her thoughts. “Believe in her, her limits aren’t merely the Ninth Life Destruction or Tenth Life Destruction— but beyond the thirty-third.

“Hmph!” Xia Lihua snorted, looking away. After a brief pause, she grumbled, “You are so—“

“Frustrating? I also know,” Ji Xian nodded with a grin, interjecting once more.

A vein begins to throb in Xia Lihua’s temple.

Just when she was about to fully go off on him, he offered her his hand.

“What?” Xia Lihua skeptically asked with a raised brow.

“We have some stuff to do at the Arcane Mountain.”

“You’re going to help them…?” Xia Lihua hesitated. “But you told Yueyin that—“

Ji Xian smirked, “I lied. We both know she’ll succeed anyway so why bother waiting?”

“…”

Xia Lihua was speechless. Slowly, she held Ji Xian’s hand and said, “I think Yueyin was right, you are an asshole.”

“…”

It was Ji Xian’s turn to be silent and he muttered, “Oh, was that what she called me before?”

The couple looked at each other for a moment before breaking out into laughter, then, they disappeared under the watchful gaze of the moon.